Now Cahill, who started alongside Stones in wins over Norway and Switzerland last September, has urged the former Barnsley defender to join him at Stamford Bridge if he gets the chance.

“Are Chelsea a hard club to turn down? Yes of course,” Cahill said. “In terms of ambition, if you’re a young player in the game, have played in the Premier League like he did a lot last year, and a big club come calling, it’s very difficult to turn down because you want to achieve the most you can in the short period you have in your career as a professional footballer.

“When a top club comes calling, who you know will be firing on all fronts with competitions and medals, that’s ultimately what you want to be playing for. It’s hard to turn down of course.

“He will look at the club, look at the players, and look at being involved in a squad like ours. When Chelsea came calling for me, it was an opportunity, it was a chance and looking from the outset you may not be sure how it’s going to go. But it’s one you can’t turn down, you have to grab it with both hands. Then you have to work as hard as you can to make it work.”

Should Stones eventually make the move to west London, Cahill is confident he will fit in with his new team-mates and improve under the tutelage of Mourinho.

“I saw he was very comfortable on the ball from the first time I saw him with England,” Cahill said.

“He was still a young player learning, you could see that. At the time you weren’t sure what position he was going to play in, right back, centre back and even in training he sometimes played in holding midfield. I am sure in the next few years he will fill out, learn a lot and potentially he can be a fantastic player.

“The Everton lads speak very highly of him, Phil Jagielka and Leighton Baines in particular, and he is a fantastic lad as well. If you look at his attributes, he has a lot to offer.

“When you talk about being able to handle something like that, you look at their personality.

“From what I have seen when I have been away with him for England, he is a genuinely nice guy, a down to earth lad. There is nothing ‘big-time’ about him. So for me, I’m sure he will be able to cope with the fee.

“Plus, with the right support around him, like from the more experienced players in the squad, and his family, I’m sure he’ll be fine.

“Personality wise he will fit into the group straight away. Potentially as a player he can be a top player, not just for us but also for England. I think England will benefit too because he will get more experience playing in the Premier League and also the Champions League. I’m sure he will become a bigger and better player for that.”

Cahill also spoke of his delight at the arrival of Radamel Falcao.

He said: “He is a top player. He is experienced and he has proved it.

“Last year I’m sure he’d say it didn’t go as well as he would have liked or would have planned. You don’t turn into a poor player overnight. He has done it at the top level and he is a top player.

“But this is an easy group to come into. We welcome everyone with open arms. The calibre of player is normally top draw and he fits into that bracket. Hopefully he can hit the ground running for us and score lots of goals.”